Deacs Open Season With Victory Over Kennesaw State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In front of an energized Opening Night crowd at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Wake Forest ushered in the Jake Dickert era with a 10-9 victory over Kennesaw State to launch the 2025 season.

Tonight's game, which was sponsored by the Winston-Salem Police Department and the Winston-Salem Police Foundation, was kicked off with the annual Deacon Dash as Wake Forest's Class of 2029 stormed the field in front of a spirited crowd of 30,789 at Allegacy Stadium on Friday evening. In total, 4,319 Wake students attended the Demon Deacons Opening Night victory.

The Deacs recorded nearly 350 yards of total offense, led by redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford who was 20-of-28 for 218 yards through the air and 18 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

On the ground, five different Demon Deacons contributed to 130 rushing yards while redshirt senior tight end Eni Falayi led the team in receiving with four catches for 52 yards.

Defensively, the Deacs as a unit limited Kennesaw State quarterback Dexter Williams II to just a 36 percent completion percentage on 12-of-33 attempts. Redshirt senior defensive back Nick Andersen paced the defense with nine total tackles and two passes defensed while redshirt junior defensive end Gabe Kirschke and redshirt defensive lineman Jayden Loving each recorded a sack.

Over the last 15 years, Wake Forest is now 12-3 in season openers.

Wake Forest will look to continue its winning ways at home next week as it takes on in-state foe Western Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After receiving the opening kickoff of the 2025 season, the Demon Deacon offense methodically marched down the field with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford.
- Senior running back Demond Claiborne began the series with a 13-yard scamper.
- On a key 4th-and-1 play from its own 47-yard line, redshirt senior running back Jamario Clements moved the chains.
- Ashford went 5-for-5 on the opening drive for 43 yards.
Kennesaw State responded with an opening touchdown drive of its own, however, Wake Forest continued to lead 7-6 as the Owls missed the extra point.
The Demon Deacon defense held strong on a 4th-and-2 from its own 37-yard line on its second appearance of the evening.
Wake Forest remained in front by one, 7-6, with 10:24 remaining in the first half as Kennesaw State missed a field goal.
- On third down before the field goal attempt, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Tyler Walton swatted down an Owls pass attempt.
The Demon Deacons entered the halftime break with a 7-6 lead.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Owls took a 9-7 lead with 9:45 remaining in the frame after converting a 29-yard field goal attempt.
After a stout defensive performance – allowing just three yards on six plays from inside the Owls' 15-yard line – Wake Forest's offense immediately gained 41 yards from a long reception from redshirt senior Karate Brenson followed by a 12-yard facemask penalty to get inside the Kennesaw State 15.
- The Deacs would take back the one-point advantage, 10-9, as redshirt freshman kicker Connor Calvert hit on a 22-yard attempt.
With a little more than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, a thumping sack from redshirt junior defensive end Gabe Kirschke on 3rd-and-13 forced a Kennesaw State punt.
A 23-yard connection between Ashford and redshirt sophomore wideout Micah Mays Jr. pushed the quarterback above the 200-yard passing mark for the evening.
In the closing stages of the fourth quarter, the Demon Deacon defense clamped down and forced a turnover on downs on a 4th-and-9 to secure the first victory of the 2025 season.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

In his first game for the Demon Deacons, redshirt senior Eni Falayi led the team with four receptions for 52 yards, including an 18-yard grab in the second quarter.
- It marked the most receptions by a Wake Forest tight end since Jack Freudenthal against Louisville on October 12, 2019.

STAGGERING STATISTICS

The Demon Deacons have now won each of their past five opening night games dating back to the 2021 season, along with nine of their last ten season openers.

FROM COACH DICKERT
"Winning ugly is the prettiest way to do it and I mean that in all senses of reality. That's something we talked about in the locker room. Adversity came at us right away but we responded to it. We rallied together and did a heck of a job as a team. We win as a team, we lose as a team and we won tonight as a team. We came in tonight with one mission and one mission only: to get the win. Now, there are a lot of things to learn overall. There was a lot of undisciplined play in the first half, but I thought we settled in a little bit. Then, in the second half we beat ourselves. We got the big play out of Karate [Brenson] when we needed it and we got the field goal when we needed it, and I'm really proud of our defense for going out there and shutting things down. We will be a better team eight days from now because we went through this. I give credit to Kennesaw State. I thought they had a heck of a game plan and their kids played extremely well throughout the game. We will respond to this."

UP NEXT
Wake Forest will continue a four-game homestand next Saturday when the Demon Deacons host Western Carolina for UNRIVALED Weekend. Kickoff inside Allegacy Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Robby Ashford

Players Mentioned

Nick Andersen

Robby Ashford

Karate Brenson

Connor Calvert

Demond Claiborne

Jamario Clements

Eni Falayi

Gabe Kirschke

Jayden Loving

Micah Mays Jr.

Tyler Walton

Wake Forest Athletics